GEO. O. STATES by GEO. O. STATES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Oct 25, 1906

GEO. O. STATES

By GEO. O. STATES

Lessons from Past Experiences — No. 8

GEO. O. STATES

Up to the close of the war our message had been confined to the eastern and central part of the United States. About this time Brother James Erzenberger came to this country from Switzerland to more fully learn the message, and later Elder J. N. Andrews went to Europe to carry on the work. A few years after the war Elders Loughborough and Bourdeau opened up the work in California, the Lord preparing the way.

As I think over the past and see how the Lord led in the work, and how, instead of a few conferences in the north-eastern part of our country, our work has gone to every part of the world, our membership has increased from a few hundred to over seventy-five thousand, and instead of one printing-press we now have papers printed in all parts of the world, and have founded schools, colleges, and Christian Help work in many places, I am deeply impressed that our consecration has not increased with our membership. In the ninth chapter of Ezekiel the sealing work is brought to view. This sealing is in the remnant church, and the seal will be placed “upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” After the sealing work is finished, probation will close, and the plagues will be poured out.

The nations will be held in check until the number are sealed. I believe we shall be brought into as close places before the end as we were during the Civil War, and only those who believe and heed the whole truth will stand the test before us. In “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, we read: “But there are many, many in our churches who know little of the real meaning of the truth for this time.”—Page 252. “A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. Are we prepared to meet it? We need not say, The perils of the last days are soon to come upon us. Already they have come.”—Page 315. How thankful we should be that the Lord is constantly sending us such timely counsel! May we each heed it.

I think it was during the war that I first met a young man who had recently embraced the truth. He possessed some good natural ability and a great deal of push, and the brethren of the conference encouraged him to enter the ministry. He soon started out in the tent work, and for some years was quite successful in bringing many into the truth. In the early days of his ministry he was quite humble, and willingly accepted the counsel of leading brethren. As success attended his efforts, he became exalted and more independent. Finally the Lord sent him a Testimony warning him of the danger of getting above the simplicity of the work. He was warned that unless he was guarded, he would go on until his weakness would be apparent to all. Instead of receiving the reproof the Lord sent him, he became disaffected and gave up preaching for some years, and engaged in farming. In 1884 he attended our Michigan camp-meeting; the power of God came into the meeting, and he humbly acknowledged his wrong course, asking Brother and Sister White to forgive him for wronging them. After that for some time he appeared a changed man. Soon after the camp-meeting he wrote a very humble confession in the REVIEW, telling of the remarkable change, saying it was directly from heaven, was the work of the Spirit of God. For some time after this he seemed to be a changed man, and preached and wrote with his old-time vigor. After a few years he again lost his hold upon the message, and in 1887 he decided that he would unite with another church and engage in gospel work. He soon began to preach and write, holding up the spirit of prophecy to ridicule.

As I think about this poor man, I am impressed with the long-suffering of our God. This man had defects that would unfit him for the kingdom of God. Time and again the Lord sent him corrections, bringing him over the same ground where he had fallen. Even after he had left our people and united with another denomination, the Lord sent him a Testimony, calling his attention to the terrible mistake he was making, and the final end if he persisted in such a course.

This is only one of the many cases where the Testimonies have been rejected and sad results have followed. Brethren, our only safety is in accepting and following the light that God in mercy sends us through his chosen servant. I have watched these things, and for over fifty years I have observed that those who reject the light that God sends, sooner or later give up the whole truth.

Cedaredge, Colo.